About SouthCoast Aikido
The Art of Aikido
Aikido is a non-violent, Japanese martial art introduced by Morihei Ueshiba, known as 'O-Sensei' or 'Great Teacher.'
Aikido's main focus is on using an attacker's energy and structure to gain control of a conflict by immobilizing them or using a throw to move them away. It begins with basic movements, step by step, and incorporates increased body movement and dynamic motion as training continues.
Aikido is not only applicable as self-defense, it also provides a path to personal growth and peace of mind. O-Sensei emphasized the moral and spiritual aspects of Aikido, placing great weight on the development of harmony and peace.
Aikido can be translated into "The Way of Harmony." Although the idea of a martial discipline striving for peace and harmony may seem paradoxical, it is the most basic tenet of the art.
Our Dojo
We train in Iwama style aikido, most commonly known as the closest training style to what was taught by the founder, O Sensei. Our instructors can trace a direct lineage to O Sensei's teaching from Saito Sensei, his student, through to Ben Sensei, preserving the form and history of this art.
Ben Sensei and our dojo strive to make Aikido as accessible as possible to all students who want to train. His teaching style encompasses an individualized approach for every age, fitness level, and physical ability. Students determine their path and goals while training with an enthusiastic and supportive community.
Our Instructor
Ben Sensei is an internationally recognized Shidoin and 4th Degree Blackbelt in Aikido. He has dedicated much of his life to exploring personal expansion and performance methods.
Among his time training in Aikido, he studied, and continues to study, under Bernice Tom Sensei, 7th dan, at Sunset Cliffs Aikido. While at Sunset Cliffs Aikido, he was a live-in student for 3 years and has been training for almost three decades.
In 2018, Ben Sensei and South Coast Aikido were fortunate to come under the mentorship of Aviv Goldsmith Sensei (6th Dan and president of the Takemusu Aikido Association), who provides technical feedback, passes on leadership skills, helps with ranking, and provides general guidance for the growth our Aikido community.
Ben has expanded his practice with an interest in the internal and meditative aspects of Aikido, where he incorporates that into his knowledge and application of technique and continues to learn and apply what he learned from Bernice Sensei and others.
